Eyelash applicator and curler



Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,022,896 EYELASH APPLICATOR AND CURLER Robert R. Nathans, Chicago, 111. Application January 28, 1935, Serial No. 3,782 Claims. (01. 132-1) My invention relates generally to an applicator for cosmetics, and it has specific relation to a device for holding a plurality of sticks of mascara for the treatment of the eyelashes of the user, the parts of the structure being arranged in a novel manner to permit the user to impart a desirable curl to the eyelashes simultaneously with the application of the cosmetic to the hair shafts. My device is convenient to handle and is it quite compact so that it may be readily carried in a vanity case or etui.

In treating the eyelashes with mascara or a similar cosmetic it has usually been the practice to employ a small brush, which after being moistened, is rubbed on a block or stick of mascara and then the hair shafts are brushed with the bristles containing a coating of the cosmetic until the desired treatment has been performed. The mascara stick and the brush are usually stored in a small covered container, but there is always the liability of losing or misplacing of the brush; and furthermore, the bristles of the brush not infrequently become stiffened and clogged with the mascara. In either event the outfit is rendered useless.

With my article the structure is a complete unit, and consists of two holders, in the form of sockets or shells, that are flexibly connected at their rear ends for hinging movement relative to each other with a yieldable element interposed between them. The mascara or other cosmetic is in the form of flat sticks that are inserted in the holders and have their outer ends chamfered or beveled in opposite directions so that their combined ends taper to an apex.

When a brush is used as above pointed out, it is not possible to impart a curl to the hair shafts during the brushing operation, and the user must resort to one of the known mechanical devices for shaping the eyelashes, which devices are usually too large to carry conveniently in a purse. The arrangement of the parts of my article permit the user to impart a very desirable curl to the eyelashes during the operation of applying the cosmetic and thus I have been able to eliminate the use of a separate curler device.

Among the other objects and advantages of my device may be mentioned that it is novel in the disposition of its parts; it is easy to manipulate; it is sturdy in construction; it containsno loose parts that may be misplaced or lost; and'it is economical to manufacture so that it may be sold for a reasonable price to the user.

I prefer to practice my invention and to accomplish the numerous objects thereofin subing drawing that forms apart of stantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being made to the accompanythe specification. 5

In the drawing: a

I Figure 1 is a view in enlarged longitudinal sec-- tion showing the details of my mascara applicator and eyelash curler about to be inserted in the casing or container.

Figure 2 is a transverse section. taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i I

Figure 3 is a longitudinal side elevation of my devirie in a different position than shown in Figure Figures 4 and 5 are side views of fragmentary end portions of modified structures.

Figure 6 is agraphic view showing the manner of operating the article to curl the eyelashes.

The drawing is more or less schematic for the purpose of disclosing typical or preferred forms in which my invention may be made, and in said drawing the same reference characters identify like parts wherever such parts appear in the different views.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen the article comprises a pair of rectangular holders or shells arranged in side-byside spaced relation to each other and movably connected together at their closed rear ends. The upper shell as detailed in Figs. 1 and 2 preferably consists of outer and inner walls 5 and 6 of rectangular outline that have vertical side walls 1 that. are preferably connected thereto and extend below the bottom wall 6 in the form of depending flanges 8. There is a vertical end wall 9 that is preferably below the bottom wall 6 in the form of a flange l0 and. has cylindricalknuckles to provide part of ahinge H. The lower shell preferably consists of inner and outer walls I 2 and. i3 respectively that are connected by vertical side walls 14 and an end wall IS, the latter extending up beyond the inner wall in the form of an upstanding flange I6 with a hinge knuckle along its edge to cooperate with knuckles above mentioned to provide a hinged or articulated connection between the holders.

The flanges l0 and I6 and the hinge join the two holders or shells so that they may be moved relatively with respect to each other and also 5 provide means for spacing the holders apart in the manner shown, and a coiled or other type spring I! is interposed between the holders or shells with its ends secured or anchored to the adjacent inner walls of the respective holders.

The hinge and the spring permit the article being pressed between a persons finger and thumb to move the other or free ends of the holders towards each other as shown in Fig. 3.

As is seen in the drawing the holders or shells are open at their free ends opposite the articulation so that suitable sockets or pockets are provided to receive sticks or elongated blocks l8 of the cosmetic such as mascara which are rectangular in cross-section to permit them to be readily and removably inserted into these sockets and held therein with sufiicient firmness to permit their use in the desired manner. The outer ends of the cosmetic sticks are chamfered as suggested at ii! to provide chisel-shaped work-portions.

The manner of using this article is graphically illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows two relative positions of the applicator in creating an upward curl to the eyelashes while treating the hair shafts with the mascara.

In using the applicator the operator holds the shells between a finger and thumb preferably at about the transverse plane of the spring and grasps the eyelashes between the chisel-ends of the mascara sticks. The parts are then pressed towards each other against the action of the spring until the ends of the mascara sticks engage each other as well as the hair shafts near the roots in the edge of the. eyelid. With the cilia held in this manner the article is moved in an upward swinging motion as shown in dotted lines and drawn away from the eye lid so that the hair shafts remain in contact with the mascara until the latter has been withdrawn from the outer ends of the lashes. This operation may be readily repeated several times, if desired.

In order that the article may be carried in a purse or etui, I prefer to provide a hollow elongated casing or container 20 of such dimensions that the article may be inserted in its open end until portions of the outer walls and i3 of the holders or shells are inside the casing in which position the expansive action of the spring I! will cause the walls '5 and I3 to frictionally engage with the inner surfaces of the adjacent walls of the casing and maintain the structure in assembly. It will be understood the spring need not be interposed directly between the holders in the manner of spring I! but may be wound on the hinge pin and have lateral portions co-acting with the inner walls of the respective holders.

A comparatively cheap construction of this article is shown in Fig. 4 wherein the shells 22 and 23 are made of heavy paper or the like with a cushion 24 of sponge rubber between them that is cemented or otherwise secured to adjacent inner walls of said shells. A sheet of heavy paper 25 is secured to the outer walls of the shells and extends across their ends (preferably forming the end walls of said shells) and a connecting web 26 between the shells that provide a flexible connection between the parts so that this modified article may be operated in the same manner as disclosed in connection with the preferred form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Another modified device is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the intermediate spring ll of the preferred form and the sponge rubber cushion 24 of the modified form in Fig. 4 are dispensed with, and in lieu thereof the shells (which may be either metal or heavy paper) are flexibly connected by means of a U-shaped spring the arms 21 of which are secured to the shells and the somewhat semi-circular or curved portion 28 bows away from the shells substantially in the manner shown.

Both types of the article shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are adapted to be retained in a suitable casing or container of paper or the like in a manner 5 similar to that shown in Fig. l and the mode of operation thereof is the same as in the preferred form. In all the types the outer end portions of the mascara sticks are adapted to be cut or shaved back as it is used in order to maintain chamfered or chisel-shaped work ends. In the event the holders or shells and casing or container are made of precious metals, or enameled, or are ornamental as in the manner of other toilet accessories, the holder may be retained and the mascara sticks may be readily renewed from time to time with refills after being used down to short lengths in the same manner as rouge, lip-sticks and the like. The article is quite handy, and it will be seen that it combines in one unitary structure an applicator and an eyelash curler which have heretofore been available only as separate articles. The complete article in the container is quite small and does not require any more space in a purse than is now occupied by a mascara applicator of the separate brush and stick type.

What I claim is:--

1. A cosmetic appliance comprising associated normally side-by-side members hingedly con- 30 nected together for relative movement with respect to each other, elongated mascara sticks adjacent end portions of which are connected to said members and the other ends are disposed a substantial distance from said members to provide arms between the operating ends and the connected ends of said sticks, whereby the operating ends of the sticks may be engaged with each other by a movement of said members towards each other.

2. A device of the character described comprising normally side-by-side elongated mascara sticks, associated shells to which adjacent ends of said sticks are connected, said sticks projecting a substantial distance from said shells to provide arms that dispose their operating ends remote from their connected ends, and means connecting said shells for relative movement towards and away from each other whereby the remote operating ends of the sticks may engage each other by a movement of said shells towards each other.

3. A device of the character described comprising normally side-by-side elongated mascara sticks, associated shells in which adjacent ends of said sticks are seated, said sticks protruding a substantial distance from said shells and provide arms that dispose their operating ends remote from their connected ends, and means adjacent the seated ends of said sticks for connecting said shells for relative movement towards and away from each other, whereby the remote operating ends of the sticks may be engaged with each other by a movement of said shells towards each other.

4. A cosmetic appliance comprising normally side-by-side mascara sticks, means hingedly connecting said sticks adjacent one end and permitting the opposite free ends to be moved towards and away from each other, and means other than said connecting means tending normally to separate said sticks and against the stress of which the free ends of said sticks are movable towards each other.

5. A cosmetic appliance comprising normally 2,022,896 side-by-side mascara sticks, which sticks are elonother than said connecting means tending norgated to provide arms of substantial length with maily to separate said sticks and against the remote operating ends, means hingediy connectstress of which the remote operating ends or the ing the proximate ends of said sticks and persticks are movable towards each other. 6 mitting the operating ends thereof to be moved towards and away from each other, and means ROBERT R. NATHANS. 

